Meth lab suspect arrested after drug overdose

ELLSWORTH — A Bar Harbor woman who was revived by CPR Monday afternoon after an accidental drug overdose was arrested Tuesday upon her release from the hospital.

Joy Levesque

It was the second drug-related arrest in six days for 40-year-old Joy Levesque. The first arrest was on March 4 at her home in Bar Harbor, where drug agents found a suspected methamphetamine lab.

Levesque was charged with Class B trafficking in scheduled drugs in connection with that case. She was charged with violation of bail on Tuesday, for allegedly using drugs on Monday at a State Street apartment house.

Arrested at the scene at 153 State St. on Monday was 35-year-old Russell Crossman Jr., described by police as a transient. He was charged with unlawful possession of meth and heroin.

Police said Crossman allegedly had 0.6 grams of meth and 0.2 gross grams of heroin (gross grams in a measurement that includes the packaging or container).

County Ambulance was first called to the apartment house shortly before 4 p.m. Monday after a 911 call came in concerning an “unresponsive” woman, later found to be Levesque.

Dispatchers at the Hancock County Regional Communications Center notified police of the situation, and officers from the Ellsworth Police Department and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency responded to the scene.

Levesque had been brought out of the building and placed on an outdoor deck. Ambulance personnel performed CPR and revived her, and she was taken to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital.

Police began an investigation and spoke with Crossman, who was reportedly observed leaving the scene. He was taken into custody and then to the Hancock County Jail. He has a court date of April 21.

Ellsworth Police Detective Dotty Small said Tuesday she did not know who had placed the 911 call, nor what specific drug(s) Levesque had overdosed on.

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Steve Fuller

Reporter at The Ellsworth American,

Steve Fuller worked at The Ellsworth American from 2012 to early 2018. He covered the city of Ellsworth, including the Ellsworth School Department and the city police beat, as well as the towns of Amherst, Aurora, Eastbrook, Great Pond, Mariaville, Osborn, Otis and Waltham. A native of Waldo County, he served as editor of Belfast's Republican Journal prior to joining the American. He lives in Orland.

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